Kathie Bracy's Blog

A forum for Ohio educators, sharing thoughts regarding their health care and pension system (STRS Ohio). Researcher John Curry manages a clearinghouse of related e-mails, articles, announcements, etc. His daily mailings include many items that do not make it to this blog. Contact John (curryfeezer@yahoo.com) if you wish to be on his e-mail list. Kathie Bracy: kbb47@aol.com.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

A special thanks to a very special (former) Board member......

Thousands of educators, active and retired, owe special thanks to John Lazares for his unflagging perseverance in doing the right thing for all in the face of innumerable, and sometimes insurmountable, obstacles during his four years as a member of the STRS Board. John, we sorely needed your leadership at a time when none was forthcoming. You will be very much missed......but hopefully not for long. Thank you, a million times over, for your unyielding dedication to Doing The Right Thing, no matter what. You've made a tremendous difference for thousands, and for that we will always be grateful to you.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

From Express Scripts: Medicare Part B-Covered Drugs and Supplies Eligible for Coordination of Benefits

[Thanks to Shirlee Zerkel and John Curry, you NOW have this list -- you sure didn't get it from STRS or Express Scripts!! KBB]

Effective Aug. 1, 2008, the STRS Ohio Health Care Program will pay your portion of prescription costs for select drugs and supplies listed below that are coordinated with Medicare. This means your copayment will be $0 for coordinated Medicare Part B drugs/supplies dispensed by a participating Medicare retail pharmacy or NationsHealth, Express Scripts' Medicare Part B mail-order pharmacy. Please see the introductory letter and frequently asked questions (FAQ) document sent to you in July 2008 for additional information or contact Express Scripts toll-free at 1-866-685-2792 for more information.

RH Jones: A tribute to STRS Bd. Rep. John Lazares

8/17/08

Dear John Lazares,

I am sorry to have missed your farewell reception. Molly Janczyk was absolutely correct when she stated in her 29 July 08 message: “…John Lazares bringing up his concerns awhile back about STRS investments in Fannie Mae”. Early on, you repeatedly brought it up, but it seemed to fall on deaf ears at the STRS. And, I backed you up in your fears by mentioning in a STRS board meeting that investment staff should be careful with investing our funds in Fannie Mae. That is all a matter of STRS board minute records.

John, as you served us on the board, you were on top of so many issues they are too numerous to mention is this e-mail. And you did this while suffering GREAT PAIN due to your knee operations --- Anytime there is work done on a bone, pain is suffered. Even so, you kept up with your awesome responsibilities as an active board rep. In total contrast with the actions of some other board members whom you helped expose as being unethical, your leadership, coupled with Dr. Leone’s, has, therefore, benefited all members of our STRS; Even those unethical board members that have now joined the ranks of us retirees.

As they add your name to that brass plate on the STRS meeting room wall, I will always honorably remember you. Not so, for the board members identified by the court system as being convicted of misdemeanors.

Thanks John, you were a wonderful board rep that went “beyond the pale” to serve all STRS members as you were directed to do so under the ORC 3307.15.

Here’s wishing you a great life, without pain. You served irreproachably.

With the deepest and heart warming gratitude,

Robert Hudson Jones, the opinion of one STRS retired member.

P.S. to “y’all”: Having worked so hard to get HB 315, the retired teacher health care bill, moving out of the FIRES CMTE, I neglected my duties at home. Having finished painting the house, I was hit with a hailstorm and now must replace the roofs of my house, garage and little barn. Anyway, it has been a tough time for this legislation. It seems that the politicians are now all waiting until the November election. I hope to be back “on the attack” then. In the meantime, I feel confident that other active/retired educators will keep the pressure on. This is one House Bill that we cannot afford to lose!

Nancy Boomhower's speech to STRS Board, August 14, 2008

Good afternoon. My name is Nancy Boomhower. I am a 30 year retiree from Medina County. I taught first grade in Brunswick and now teach GED parttime at the Medina County Jail. At the present time, I am President of the Medina County Retired Teachers Association and a member of CORE.

I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you and good luck to John Lazarus. We retirees are very grateful to John for the time that he spent on the Board helping to look out for our interests. He did this in sickness and health. Mostly in sickness.

I would also like to extend a welcome to Mike Nehf as he begins his position as our new director. Hopefully, this will be a time of peace and cooperation, as much progress has been made in establishing a better, more open and trusting relationship between the retirees and the STRS board, staff and administration. It has not been easy, but then nothing that is worthwhile is easily achieved.

We are looking forward to continuing to work together for the good of all educators.

About Me

A graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the Baylor University School of Music, I am a professional symphony musician by background. I am also a retired elementary classroom teacher (nonmusic), having taught in the Alliance (OH) City Schools 2-1/2 years and the Columbus Public Schools 30 years. My first job was as harp instructor at The University of Texas; currently I am a Lecturer in Harp at The University of Mount Union. As a retired educator and a life member of a number of professional organizations, including the Ohio Retired Teachers Association and the Ohio Education Association-Retired, I also worked through CORE (Concerned Ohio Retired Educators, which officially disbanded 9/20/12) to help bring about badly needed reform in our teachers retirement system, STRS Ohio. My e-mail: kbb47@aol.com.